“Mizel of the Tialttyrin,” Zelli introduced himself to Fy for the second or third time. “But you may as well call me Zelli. Most everyone does. If you would like to return to the blackberries, you may, although I’d recommend taking something to carry them, and I don’t think Tahlen will give you your weapons back yet.”
Fy spun around to gesture confusingly at Tahlen. “Who.”
Tahlen, even more confusingly, answered, “The Mountain Wolf of the Tialttyrin.” Zelli jumped. Tahlen gave no sign he’d noticed, continuing to say odd things to Fy. “It will be easier for you if you give in now.” He waited until Fy had stepped away—toward his friends in the trees and not the blackberries, gesticulating excitedly—before facing Zelli, his expression as impenetrable as the fortress’ oldest walls.
Zelli raised his hands. “You’re upset about how I stepped forward without you, and you’re also going to tell me not to make promises for Grandmother. I know—although that is a bit rich since you are the one who introduced me as speaking for The Tialttyrin.”
“You practicallyareThe Tialttyrin,” Tahlen bent down to say it nearly in Zelli’s face. “And when I tell you to stay back, I need you tostay back, Zelli. Please.” Thepleasewas Zelli’s undoing and Tahlen probably knew it. It made Zelli swallow his arguments, recalling Fy’s words only too clearly.
“Yes, Tahlen.”
Tahlen looked confused at Zelli’s acquiescence, but then shook it off. “Thank you for your faith in me, but even the best in the country is at risk in every fight, no matter who it is against.”
“Oh.” Zelli bit his lip before peeking up for a hint that Tahlen wasn’t that angry with him anymore. “Did I worry you? I was hoping to talk them out of fighting by saying that. I don’t think they wanted to in the first place.”
Tahlen inched his shoulders down. “Probably not. But I would have done it if you had asked.”
“I would never ask that of you,” Zelli assured him immediately.
Zelli had never seen anyone, much less any sworn guard, much lessTahlen, look as frustrated as Tahlen did in that moment.
“It’s my purpose.” His expression said he was vexed at levels beyond Zelli’s understanding. “Protecting the one I have sworn to protect.”
“Do not say ‘gladly,’” Zelli rushed to insist. “Your purpose is more than that. It must be. But… I thank you.” He reached out, then became aware of the silence from those by the trees. One of the former Lyralinah guards could have been smirking beneath his beard. Fy had his eyebrows raised. Zelli pulled his hand back, then braced himself. “We’re going to go speak with them now. Or, I will speak, more than likely, and you will loom menacingly unless you want to speak too. I won’t stop you from doing either. But I’m sorry that you won’t be able to relax. And that I….” Zelli left the other subject for a different time. “Is this right?” he asked at last, letting his nerves show.
Tahlen’s reply was gentle and only for Zelli to hear. “Lead, and I will follow.”
Zelli rounded on the others with a wide, beaming smile he couldn’t have concealed even if he’d tried.
Eleven
Nya often said that people talked easier and were more generous with full bellies and warm toes. Zelli could not control the weather, but he did offer to share some of his and Tahlen’s food, including the biscuits, which had prompted Let to somewhat tensely invite Zelli and Tahlen to join them for their evening meal.
Since traveling in the fog was impossible unless one had a carriage or cart with lanterns, that meant staying for the night.
Zelli had smiled for Let at that. He suspected it had startled her again, without being sure why.
“‘Just give in now,’ he said,” Fy had told Let, his tone knowing. Then, with the same cheerful attitude as before, Fy had invited Zelli to return to the blackberry bramble with him. “You could tell your Vallithi that we aren’t going to hurt you.”
Zelli, after a glance over his shoulder at Tahlen, who was giving Let a lesson in how blank faces could be, had shrugged. “I could,” he agreed, “but I’m not sure he would listen.”
“No, I don’t think he would,” the tall, thin one had muttered. Wain, if Zelli remembered his name correctly.
Zelli had decided a subject change was necessary and had asked if there was anything he could help with.
As Zelli was not allowed near the kitchens and had never cooked a meal out of doors, he was not much good at helping with anything. He had known that was the case, but had held out hopes he might be useful.
Fortunately, no one seemed to expect him to be. Fy, at least, had seemed sympathetic. He’d come back from his berry picking and, after Tahlen returned his smallest knife, had tried to teach Zelli to skin rabbits. It had not gone well.
Zelli, after washing in a nearby stream, had eventually taken himself over to the tamped-down space between some exposed tree roots where the two injured guards sat, and had inquired about their needs. Nari’s broken collarbone had happened in the mountains. Tern’s leg injury was a deep cut that had not been allowed to heal, and kept reopening and worsening on the journey, which was why the guards had stopped here, hoping it would mend enough that they could continue on.
Zelli was pleased at the show of concern and loyalty. It said a great deal more than any broken oaths.
Everyone, even Let, appreciated the biscuits. Zelli told them all about Esrin’s tarts and pies, even though he personally did not know how to get on her good side to get more.
“She’s not afraid of you?” Tern was also a grunter, but that might have been the pain of her injury.
Zelli frowned, then frowned harder at Tahlen’s snort. The Tialttyrin were not the sort to mistreat servants. But he caught several of the others exchanging looks before he could explain that and didn’t care for how they all then glanced curiously at Tahlen.
